US3729945A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multi-component refrigerant for the liquefaction of natural gas
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-11-26
•
Granted: 1973-05-01
•
Expires: 1989-11-26
Abstract
Abstract The efficiency of mixed refrigerant gas liquefaction process, for example liquefaction of natural gas using a refrigerant consisting of components extracted from the natural gas, may be improved by controlling the composition, and hence the temperature/enthalpy profiles, of the refrigerant streams in each heat exchange stage. Coarse control is effected by adding portions of a refrigerant mixture extracted from the previous heat exchange stage, and fine control is effected by adding pure liquefied gases.
Inventors
- 👤 D Linnett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 12:12
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25J; F25J3/00; F25J3/02; F25J3/0228; F25J3/0257; F25J1/00; F25J1/0002; F25J1/0022; F25J1/003; F25J1/0032; F25J1/004; F25J1/0045; F25J1/0047; F25J1/0052; F25J1/0055; F25J1/02; F25J1/0201; F25J1/0202; F25J1/0211; F25J1/0212; F25J1/0243; F25J1/0244; F25J1/0245; F25J1/0249; F25J1/025; F25J1/0257; F25J1/0262; F25J1/0264; F25J3/0204; F25J3/0209; F25J3/0233; F25J2200/00; F25J2200/02; F25J2200/50; F25J2200/74; F25J2205/00; F25J2205/02; F25J2205/04; F25J2210/00; F25J2210/06; F25J2220/00; F25J2220/60; F25J2220/64; F25J2245/00; F25J2245/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
50 words
A process according to claim 1, in which at least one substantially pure liquefied gas is introduced into at least one of the expanded portions of liquid refrigerant prior to its introduction into a chosen heat exchange stage, whereby the temperature-enthalpy profile of the chosen heat exchange stage is improved.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process according to claim 2, additionally comprising taking a bleed from at least one of said refrigerant liquid portions and then separating the bleed to form the substantially pure liquefied gas.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A process according to claim 1, in which the partial liquefaction producing the least volatile portion of refrigerant liquid is performed by passing the compressed circulating refrigerant mixture through a water cooler, and the other partial liquefactions are performed by cooling in said heat exchange stages.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A process according to claim 1, in which after the successive partial liquefactions have been performed, the remainder of the refrigerant mixture is expanded and used to cool any heat exchange stage through which the expanded liquid portions have not been passed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process according to claim 1, in which vaporized liquid natural gas is passed through at least some of the heat exchange stages.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process according to claim 1 comprising removing low boiling point products from the feedstock by expanding the feedstock into a column and effecting fractional distillation therein between a boiler and a condenser.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process according to claim 7 comprising heating the reboiler by passing the feedstock through the reboiler prior to its expansion into the column.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process according to claim 7 comprising cooling said condenser with at least part of one of the portions of expanded refrigerating liquid to be vaporized in a lower temperature heat exchange stage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process according to claim 9 comprising adjusting the composition of the portion of refrigerating liquid introduced into said condenser by adding thereto portions of one or more substantially pure gases.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
US3026683A
Cited
US3218816A
Cited
US3274787A
Cited
US3401532A
Cited
US3364685A
Cited
US3581511A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-30 | 1976-10-30 | 1977-05-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-30 | 1980-10-30 | 1981-05-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-30 | 1984-10-30 | 1985-05-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |